Luca Van Assche, an intellect & mathematician | ATP Tour

Participant Options

Luca Van Assche, an mind & mathematician

Study extra about Frenchman

December 10, 2024

Luca Van Assche is carving a singular path on and off the court docket, balancing the rigours {of professional} tennis alongside the challenges of learning university-level arithmetic. And the 20-year-old Frenchman is excelling at each.

Whereas some gamers might go for relaxation throughout transient moments of free time, Van Assche elects to deal with his research at Paris Dauphine College. It isn’t unusual for his on-line lessons to be sandwiched in between Van Assche’s coaching classes, as showcased in our new ‘Journey To Jeddah’ video collection.

“Even when I win 50 grand slams, I can’t play after I’m 60, in order that’s why I continued. I’m additionally having fun with it,” Van Assche mentioned. “It’s troublesome to do each. For the second, I’m sorting it effectively.”

The #NextGenATP star is constructing a profession that’s about extra than simply rankings and trophies — it’s a journey to sharpen not solely his on-court efficiency, but additionally his off-court skills.

“This can be a younger man who could be very a lot an mind,” mentioned analyst Robbie Koenig. “The truth that he research university-level maths. In case your mind is wired that approach, it’s solely going that will help you in your tennis to resolve issues. Between the ears, he’s extra certified than most.”

One equation that Van Assche might relish is the quantity of former rivals on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF who’re at the moment within the High 20. A semi-finalist final yr in Jeddah, the World No. 128 within the PIF ATP Rankings will intention to comply with in these footsteps.

In actual fact, Van Assche, countryman Arthur Fils and American Alex Michelsen are aiming for a second consecutive journey to the 20-and-under occasion, a feat that has solely been achieved by six gamers, 4 of whom are at the moment within the High 20: Andrey Rublev, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe.

“I wish to do all the pieces to win this match and I hope that I’ll,” mentioned Van Assche, sixth within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Jeddah.

“After we see the names of the gamers who’ve performed the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals, they’re now very, very well-known and really, superb gamers. It’s motivating to say, ‘Okay, I’m on the appropriate path.’”

The Frenchman’s early success — reminiscent of reaching the third spherical of this yr’s Australian Open — has allowed him to set his sights excessive.

“My largest purpose is to simply have large goals,” Van Assche mentioned. “You probably have no regrets and know that you simply’ve completed all the pieces, I feel for me that’s a very powerful.”